“The CBI has recently received two references from the ministry of home affairs alleging contravention of the provisions of FCRA against two Tamil Nadu-based NGOs. These are being examined for appropriate further action,” said an agency official. The agency is awaiting the response of the state government in 12 additional cases.

To a question whether these actions were linked to the anti-nuclear protests in Kundankulam, Chidambaram said, “I have not said a word about Kundankulam…investigation reveal that there appears to be diversion of funds. Therefore, under FCRA we have decided to register cases.”

He did not name the NGOs facing cases and on being asked about MoS in PMO V Narayanasamy’s statements on the anti-nuclear groups he said, “I can’t answer hypothetical questions. Only after investigations details can be revealed. It was for media to speculate.”

Chidambaram said inspection of NGO accounts was routine and initial inspections revealed violations by four NGOs.

The home minister said cases have been filed as “There is reason to believe that funds were diverted from the purpose for which foreign funds were given. Prima facie there is evidence to register cases.”

Talking to TOI over phone from Nagarcoil, Maria James of Rural Uplift Centre said: “Our organization did not at all involve in any kind of fund diversion. We have nothing to do with the protestors of the Kudankulam project.”

Admitting that the account of his organization was frozen on February 13, James said: “We had filed a revision petition with the home ministry on February 21 and waiting for its response. Officials visited our Centre and could not find anything incriminating. We are fully cooperating with all those officers who visited us in connection with the probe”.

Why jail of 3 years and 4 months only? It must be at least 25 years!

CHENNAI: A special court Wednesday sentenced former DMK legislator Gomathi Srinivasan to over three years in jail for acquiring assets disproportionate to her known sources of income between 1996 and 2001.

Sentencing Srinivasan to rigorous imprisonment of three years and four months, the special court trying cases under Prevention of Corruption Act also levied a fine of Rs.5,000 on her.

Srinivasan had represented the DMK in the state assembly from Valangaiman constituency in Thanjavur between 1996 and 2001.

In a statement issued here, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) said a case was registered against Srinivasan for acquiring assets disproportionate to her known sources of income to the tune of around Rs.1.3 million in the period she was a legislator.

In its order, a specially constituted Division Bench of Justices K.N. Basha and N. Paul Vasanthakumar said Mr. Sundararajan had nothing to do either with the family of the deceased (Sankararaman) or in respect of the murder case. Further, the petitioner had come forward with a complaint making vague and bald allegations. He had not even stated in the complaint as to how and through what source he came to know about the alleged telephonic conversation purported to be between the trial Judge (T. Ramasamy), his aide/daughter and two others. In the complaint, the Kanchi Acharya’s name had not been mentioned.

Added to such lapse, the petitioner had also not produced the CD either while preferring the complaint or at the time of enquiry. He had also not impleaded the trial judge against whom he raised a suspicion. The petitioner had not come forward with a definite and specific allegation. He had also not said who recorded the conversation and how it was done and circulated.

The enquiry officer was able to proceed only with the cooperation of S. Doraisamy, advocate. The forensic expert had opined that contextual discontinuity and abrupt ending of the conversation found in the audio files indicated the possibility of editing of the source audio files. The audio content could be authenticated only after examining the actual recording devices. The enquiry officer concluded that the material available and gathered did not contain anything relating to the facts in issue, which merited any further action.

It is clear prima-facie, no clear evidence has been presented so far and many holes in the plaintiff’s story …

Bangalore, Feb 28: Janata Party supremo Subramanian Swamy once again targeted Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who left for US for routine medical check-up. Swamy, while tweeting from his personal Twitter account claimed that he had information about the reasons behind Sonia’s mysterious visit to US.

The Janata Party chief informed that the Congress President has been going under “whipple procedure surgery” which is know as roux-en-y in French. Sonia Gandhi, according to Swamy, has been suffering from cancer like Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple.

Yet, Mr Swamy stunned all after calling Mrs Gandhi “Vishkanya”. Swamy’s tweets on Monday, Feb 27 said, “Vishkanya off to US soon. My American friends tell me she underwent “whipple procedure surgery” or roux-en-y in French. Same as Steven Jobs.”

On Tuesday, Feb 28, Swamy also tweeted, “Iam informed that following my tweet she has decided to issue a formal announcement of her visit to US.”

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi on Tuesday informed that the leader will return to Indian only after five days as she has gone for routine medical check-up.

Mrs Gandhi’s medical check-up once again raised speculations among the people of the country. Congress has not yet disclosed the current status of Sonia Gandhi’s health. According to Mr Dwivedi, she (Mrs Gandhi) will return to India after 4-5 days.

Here it can be recalled that Mrs Gandhi grabbed the headlines with her mysterious surgery when she last visited US in Aug 2011. Congress had not disclosed the hospital’s name or any other information regarding Mrs Gandhi’s diagnosis. However, reports suggested that she was suffering from cancer.

In a sensational development, more than 200 fake Electronic Voting Machines have been seized from Ashok Kumar, candidate for Rashtriya Lok Dal. The EVMs were confiscated from his vehicle. The district administration of Baghpat has ordered a probe into the recovery of the alleged dummy EVMs. Further updates awaited. Congress has pinned its hopes on RLD for a coalition in a bid to swoop over Uttar Pradesh assembly.

EVMs Tampered in Punjab Polls: Replaced Following Complaints

11 electronic voting machines were replaced in the state of Punjab, which witnesses assembly elections today. This followed complaints filed by members of the Bahujan Samaj Party and the People’s Party of Punjab in the Budnala constituency of Mansa district. The charges were made following tampering of seals by an unidentified person. The EVMs were placed in the office of the sub-divisional magistrate. The incident happened late on Sunday.

“We complained to the EC and the EVMs have been replaced. We are satisfied with the action,” said President of PPP, Manpreet Singh Badal. Police have not been able to nab the person who tampered with the machines. The person is alleged to have pressed the button of Akali dal, the ruling party in Punjab.

Deputy Commissioner of Mansa ordered the replacement of 11 EVMs with new ones. This however did not affect the poll process in the state, which began at 8.00 am.